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Rita Lambani, 35, of Laindon, Essex, was convicted of fraud at Basildon Magistrates Court this month after failing to declare she owned a home when she applied for social housing.
An investigation found that Ms Limbani had not declared a property was registered in her name, that she paid the mortgage and that she rented the property out.
After applying for social housing, Ms Lambani was offered a home owned by housing association Family Mosaic.
She was found guilty of two charges under the Fraud Act and a further charge under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act, and was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Phil Turner, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing at Basildon Council, said magistrates recognised the ‘repeated, pre-planned and sophisticated nature’ of Ms Lambani’s crime and imposed a fitting sentence.
Mr Turner said: “This custodial sentence is a first for Basildon Council in our fight against housing fraud and it will not be the last if unscrupulous people continue to try to pull the wool over our eyes. This conviction sends out a clear message to fraudsters that this kind of behaviour won’t be tolerated by Basildon Council.”
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